ICE said to be in talks to merge with NYSE Euronext

An $8 billion exchange merger is in the works that underscores how the global market for derivatives has eclipsed that for stocks. The owner of the venerable New York Stock Exchange is in talks to be acquired by an upstart commodities and derivatives trading platform, according to people briefed on the matter.
The IntercontinentalExchange is expected to offer about $33 a share, with two-thirds of that in stock, one of these people said. That represents a premium of 37 percent to NYSE Euronext’s closing stock price on Wednesday. A deal could be announced as soon as Thursday morning……………………………………….Full Article: Source